Cornwall Day 1 (all the heavy lifting)

May 5, 2023

I am at present seated on a Great Western Railway train, in England, headed south and west toward Cornwall. The trip takes 24 hours, give or take a few minutes, but we have discussed this and firmly believe it is WORTH EVERY MINUTE. 

First of all, there is the drive from home to LAX. Two hours.

Then airport Security, passport checks and taking off/on shoes, jackets and sweaters and separating all of this loot into an enormous number of bins, under the watchful eyes of shouting TSA agents. 3 hours.

And then the flight from LA to Heathrow, remarkable for its high number of tiny tots practicing their screaming skills. 11 hours. (Oh - and the poor gentleman in the aisle seat next to me who had to get up multiple times to let me out. He didn't scream, but you could see the stress in his eyes each time). 

"You can have the window seat if you like, sir," we said. But the man politely declined and told us to "just climb over me if I am asleep". (I politely declined).

Then there was (after Passport control and Customs and some mindless searching for the Heathrow Express) the train ride to London Paddington. 2 hours.

And to top it all nicely off, there was the train ride (which we are still on) from Paddington to darling Cornwall, specifically St Ives. 6 hours, including the taxi ride to our cottage.

Seated next to me is the Rather Stunning Son, who has come along to share the adventure and do all the heavy lifting. Together we gaze out at green fields, soft puffy clouds, white sheep, hedge rows! You could almost believe you have landed in Narnia. 

And did you know that the Coronation of Charles Windsor is TOMORROW? I didn't know this when I booked the flight, and have been apprehensive about it ever since. I thought London might be a madhouse of frenzied royal-watchers who would accidentally crowd us into places we did not wish to go. 

But there were no crazed weirdos, no scary crowds. Only normal, bustling Londoners. And we are excited to see the Coronation from the safety and comfort or our cottage television set. A pot of tea will be shared as the golden carriage makes its shining appearance from Buckingham Palace. I will no doubt smile, and cheer. But I keep thinking about how different things might have been if, today, it were Diana sitting there next to Charles, and holding his hand.  

See you along the way!

the SconeLady